Using PPS Palliative Performance Scale
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This is a discussion on Using PPS Palliative Performance Scale in Hospice Nursing, part of Nursing Specialties ... Hello all, I've worked for two different hospices with varying opinions and I was interested in...
by military spouse Dec 19, '12Hello all,
I've worked for two different hospices with varying opinions and I was interested in how all of you use the PPS. I'm mostly concerned with 7c. If they ambulate independently, but are a fall risk with hx of falls and would benefit from personal assistance, would you rate them a 7c? I would appreciate any input. I really want to do the right thing and have asked at my current employer and the answers seem very vague and seem to change a bit at times. Would love to hear how all of you handle this
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Dec 19, '12 by tewdlesQuote from military spouseAre you confusing the FAST with the PPS?Hello all,
I've worked for two different hospices with varying opinions and I was interested in how all of you use the PPS. I'm mostly concerned with 7c. If they ambulate independently, but are a fall risk with hx of falls and would benefit from personal assistance, would you rate them a 7c? I would appreciate any input. I really want to do the right thing and have asked at my current employer and the answers seem very vague and seem to change a bit at times. Would love to hear how all of you handle this
The FAST has a level 7c which describes the ambulatory ability of the patient and is used in determining how severe the dementia may be. It is the "Functional Assessment Staging" that is used to document decline in dementia patients.
So...along those lines, if the patient is able to ambulate independently they do not meet that level of functional decline. Even if they are a significant fall risk. The question is "are they functionally able to ambulate", not are they safe when they ambulate.military spouse likes this. - Dec 19, '12 by military spouseThat's how it was when I worked for a national hospice. Current employer, they say 7C can still ambulate, but if unsafe and would BENEFIT from personal assistance than they should be 7c. Was just looking for confirmation since I can only compare the two. Thanks so much for your input.
- Dec 19, '12 by military spouseOops....wrote this too early this morning. Yes, I do mean FAST and not PPS.
- Dec 19, '12 by tewdlesThe problem with scoring patients that way is that it then becomes difficult to document their actual decline.
Good luck.military spouse likes this. -
Dec 20, '12 by Daisy_08We don't use FAST where I work, so I'm NO help
I find these scales way too subjective. On a PPS this week I scored a guy a 70% and went to look what he was last week, a 30! He was Independently ambulating, doing his own care, eating well (inappropriate for our floor - a total dump, beside the point). - Dec 20, '12 by tewdlesQuote from Daisy_08The person who had evaluated earlier either hadn't been properly trained in the use of the tool...OR...the patient improved significantly in one week.We don't use FAST where I work, so I'm NO help
I find these scales way too subjective. On a PPS this week I scored a guy a 70% and went to look what he was last week, a 30! He was Independently ambulating, doing his own care, eating well (inappropriate for our floor - a total dump, beside the point). - Dec 20, '12 by Daisy_08Quote from tewdlesThat one was extreme, I think they did it without looking at the pt, but I very often see two different scores and can see how either one would come to that conclusion.The person who had evaluated earlier either hadn't been properly trained in the use of the tool...OR...the patient improved significantly in one week.
- Dec 22, '12 by military spouseYes, these tools are extremely subjective. It is hard to score properly and different companies seem to have very different opinions.
- Dec 26, '12 by GinapixiI can see that some may take offense at my comment, but it has bothered me for quite some time that nursing, even hospice nursing, has become such a business. We need to fit people into categories in order to get the needed support for them; some patients really need the help but are not willing to accept it even if they qualify; others really need the help but we cannot get it for them because they do not quite qualify; then we get the ones who will take any thing because they qualify. How many times have I done the "aid's work" because it was needed at the time of my visit, then was told I spent too much time there, yet we are also not allowed to give help off the time sheet. To me it will always be a financially driven business (and i worked for a non profit!) and not a patient driven care service as long as we have categories and constantly growing regulations.eagle78 and softrbreeze like this.
